Device for testing the control mechanism for fuse setters and rammers for guns



May 23, 1950 M. MAESER DEVICE FOR TESTING THE CONTROL MECHANISM OF FUSESETTERS AND RAMMERS FOR GUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 w W n MW a wk .1 8e Rn N l. J\ 7 wmh n En f H i: $5

May 23, 1950 MAESER 2,5@8,5??

DEVICE FOR TESTING THE CONTROL MECHANISM OF FUSE SETTERS AND RAMMERS FORGUNS Filed Feb. 5, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 23, 1950 M. MAESER DEVICEFOR TESTING THE CONTROL MECHANISM OF FUSE SETTERS AND RAMMERS FOR GUNS 6Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 Inventor Met/z Maeser' By hi Azfor'rzeMay 23, 1950 M. MAESER 2,508,577- DEVICE FOR TESTING THE CONTROLMECHANISM OF FUSE SETTERS AND RAMMERS FOR GUNS Filed Feb. 5, 1945 eSheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Me #2 Maeser 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Met/1 Maeser"inbenfor May 23, 1950 M. MAESER DEVICE FOR TESTING THE CONTROL MECHANISMOF FUSE SETTERS AND RAMMERS FOR GUNS Filed Feb 5 1945 v M. MAESER DEVICEFOR TESTING THE CONTROL MECHANISM May 23, 1950 OF FUSE SETTERS ANDRAMMERS FOR GUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 NW VWR [nvnior MezhMaeser 5., his ztforne i atented May 23,

FOR GUNS Mietli-Maeser,;-Bve ii&, Masezmse biimi i i J ZW ZLC QWMEM acorporationof New J 'ersey WEBB Appuemm rebium s, 194's seiiai amiiewtf$3 invention reiaites 'to." testingodevices; and

antiiferaitiguns':

'Whem niif'e'turing rhecl'ianisme which: ine voW chi irfi hitits; iroiiidd cIutCheEenHan; ranged to be operated in a definite cycle, it hasbeen found necessary to siifi'j'ect such mechanisms w athorough testingorder-to; insure their proper-operation whenin actual use; Thif rearenathem cyclical-1y several: thousand tithes '=b'e:-'-'-' foi e the-aboveifntion'e'd eonditioh 'is': 'rezilclieda H in (arderto 'de s'ii'ehrunning 0f the I hmi ism i e-were nece-ss'a-m-w opeiiate tfiwhole or;the illustrated Se the As herein illustrated and in accordance withfeatures of the 'iniifitidfi, alii'dlie load is provided for the clutch"sha'ift of the-controLmechahism to betested andvmeans; such :as apower-operated cam; arprovi'dd for applying thee-brake load ifitermittntlyfi'n :tiined' relation'tca; movement of it zb'rincipa lpartrof the testi-n'g kdevice which. shim liteszsomel'action such a-stheillustrated recoil of the-gun.- v

These aLnd other-"features ofttheflinventiqn' W111 best be understoodfrom a consideration of the following efiecification taken- :inconnection with they1an:ccmriiianyingdrawingsi in which:

Fig. 11is1a 'sid elevation of :9; testing device-{in which the? present;inventionembodied; =shqwinz a'x'z'ontrolhox: mounted there on Rig. 2 isai-plan viewvofathe same:

.Pig; 4 as aflongitudirisii-section throuiia chitch shdfwon .tlt'liriflVz I-V of Fig'. 2

sen-ted to thec-g'ii iiand,

i i-age; showing? the remtienrbheretoeof themetoz'; thecontrolwox" andfueesettin'g and name: niing meehaiii'smsz better under'stezifdiiig iofthe :testingdevice; *1-'ta:;iric1usive may 'beahad from aebn's'ideraztibfii or theutflitiiof the'idontrbl-zbditmecha'riism'sriri: its; assoitiom with? the fused-set; tirig 93ndramming :i iechmisme. The! iatter 'are zipniid to a-n antia ir'e'sli-dasbly supported hymn-s id j partiof af cmdle 1541 which is iiri'iedtmmiion lit-imbue able silppbrt: n; Rleeoii vcyliricters"'lllvand B.coimterrcoil-'-cylinder? '2 atesecured -to* "the cradfi The? ramming:and f-iuse setting mechfie comprises sectional :ca" tings-s2 2 ,1 15':"and 26 are sulp'bcntedtz by med-riser bolts 28, 219111 201; the brech lifig' wgafndthisiltwti ispfdi' itied with guides; m: 211 xtertiael-iyslidfible 'sbizeeehblock -23! -('F:i'g'.=i6 Power'fisup Hediptiies"irieehanisnijs 3 The cooperating rolls 50 of a pair are swung intoengagement with the periphery of the round and are yieldable, in amanner to be described, so that they may cooperate with the varyingdiameters of the round as it moves into the gun. A cover plate securedto the sectional casting 22 provides a support for a bracket 62 on whichare carried idle rolls 84 which assist in centering the round as it ispresented to the ramming mechanism. Each feed roll carrier 58, as shownin Fig. 6, swings on a. jack shaft 86. Each shaft 86 is supported upon abearing 88, and those at the rightside of the rammer have at their upperends bevel gears within housings H and 13' meshing with similar gears ona drive shaft 12 at the forward end of which is one half 4! of theclutch 40, this half being splined to the shaft and -capable of yieldingagainst a spring 14 (Fig. 6). The shaft 12 is carried in bearingsprovided by the sections 22 and 26 and by a lug 16 on the breech ring30. At its lower end, leach jack shaft 68 has a pinion 18 meshing withapinion 80 on the roll shaft, thereby to drive the roll. The pinions 18on opposite sides of the rammer are interconnected. By this arrangement,the supply ofpower to the cooperating rolls of a set is independent ofthe positions of the carriers, and it will later be shown that, afterfiring the gun, these carriers are swung aside to provide a free passagefor the expulsion of the cartridge case 44. Inasmuch as the feed rollelements contained within the forward section 26 are identical withthose already described, no furtherdescription will be given of theseparts, and the same numerals'will be appliedthereto.

. ,Separation of the feed roll carriers is effected by a spring 88 (Fig.6) surroundings. rod 88 and bearing at one end against a collar 90secured to the rod and at its forward end against a block 92. This blockis slidable on the rod 88 and has its lower end threaded to a rod 94which is yieldabhr connected :to the feed roll carriers. This yieldableconnection is effected by coil springs I02 and I04 abutting yokes'98,joined to the carriers. The reduced forward end I I0 of the rod 94 issupported inia lug 423 on the'breech ring and is positioned forengagement with an abutment II2 formed on thecontrolbox 36. Accordingly,when the gun is in; battery position, asshown in Fig. 2, this rod 94 ispushed back to compress the springs I02 and I04, .-thereby to holdthefeed rolls 50 resiliently against the sides of the round of ammunitionand accommodating variations in diameter from point to base. Uponrecoil, the already compressed spring 88 expands'and, acting through theblock 82,v moves the rod 94 forward to swing the feed roll carriers outto a position Where there is sufficient space to permit a free passageof the expelled cartridge case 44. i

Fuse-setting mechanism. The parts of the fuse-setting mechanism whichgrasp the fuse-setting ring 48 'of the shell are'contained within thesectional casting 24. Firm engagement of themechanismwith the ring '48is effected by sharp-edged disks I20 (Fig. 6) mounted in a trio of jawsI22 which are pivotally carried on pins I24 extending between arcuateportions which, with theside plates I28 and I30, go to make up arotatable cage I3I mounted on ball bearings I32 for rotationaround theaxis of the gun. The side plates are frictionally held in clampingengagement with the arcuate portions by means of transverse bolts.v (notshown). The

outer surface of the cage is cylindrical andsupports a sliding ring I35.An annular sleeve I surrounds and tightly frictionally engages the ringI35 and has, on its outer surface, parallel peripheral grooves whichconstitute a rack enabling the ring to be moved along the axis of thegun from one end to the other of the cage I3I in a manner to bedescribed. Extending between the ring;'l35 andg'thei'aws I22 are linksI42 which, when the ring I35 is forward, as in Fig. 6, extendsubstantially radially and hold the disks I20 in firm engagement withthe fuse ring 48.

(not shown) or manually (not shown).

When, on the other hand, the ring I35 is slid to the rear, these armsI42 are drawn into recesses provided in the cage so that they arecompletely out of the path of the cartridge case 44 as it moves into thegun or When it is expelled after firing.

Fractional rotation of the cage I3I around the axis of the gun to setthe fuse ring 48 is effected by power delivered to an annular gear I44formed on the side plate I30. This gear is driven indirectly by anoperating shaft (not shown) for the fuse setter which carries part ofthe coupler 38 (Fig. '7) and receives power through the control box 38at appropriatetimes. For sliding the ring I35 upon the cage to move thearms I22 in and out, power is received from a sliding rack (not shown),mounted on a rod carried'by a bracket on the section 28 and which isalined with a rod 400 (Figs. 2 and 7) in the control box 36.

, M 01501 drive Power is supplied from the motor 34 (Fig. 5) which isconnected by belts 35 to a drive shaft I10 (Fig. 7) contained within thecontrol box 36 and driven (a) to rotate the feed rolls, thereby to carrythe shell into engagement with the fuse-setter jaws, (b) to turn'thefuse setter, thereby to set the fuse in accordance with data receivedfrom a director, (0) to then move the jaws out of the way, and (d) todrive the feed rolls at a higher speed, thereby to carry thev shell intothe gun. The breech is then closed automatically and the gun fired asdesired, either automatically Closure of the breechblock is effectedautomatically when the flange 46 upon the round of ammunition engages.the arms 484 (Fig. 6) of an extractor 486 whichis pivoted in thebreechblock32. The consequent rocking of this extractor clockwise movesits trunnions from the locking position which is illustrated, along thegrooves shown in'dotted lines, to a release position so that a spring(not shown) acting through an arm 481 will raise the breechblock intoposition to close the rear end of the barrel of the gun ready forfiring.

, Control mechanism To determine the setting of the fuse and to controlthe sequence of operations, a transmission or control" mechanism, showndiagrammatically in Fig. 7, is provided within the control box 38. .Inthis control mechanism, the power of the motor 34 supplied to the driveshaft I18 is transmitted to a subjacent clutch. shaft I12 through eithera low-speed connection comprising a countershaftIH, or through ahighspeed connection embodying gears I16, depending upon which one ofthe clutches I18 or I is closed by the action of a sleeve I8I splined tothe shaft I12 and moved by a speed shipperI82. This shipper has a camroll I83 engaging the track of a cam I84 on a cam shaft I86. The clutchshaft I12 is provided at its rear end (the near end in Fig. 7) with onepart 43'of the dog clutch 40'by means of which power is transmitted tothe feed rolls. 'Also supported on the shaft .1 12 is a worm gear I88meshing with a and-w:

iwbm'vflnffth'efrcounter-Shaft 1 H comprising :aepart ofitheHow-speeddrivewas welltas :a part ionmdi-flerential I80.

"Thiszandiother mechanism is contained in-the .control box 36 and theutility thereof willnow :bef'briefly'described by a recitation off theseequences of I operations of the ramming and fusesetting-devices in acycle determined byrth is con- :trol- -mechanism. When thegUHLiSTGa'dYifOIfUSE, zitis in battery positionwith the breechblocklowered; the fuse-setter jaws closed-:andithe feed -roll brackets swungin:so that: theerolls are ready tu-engage a:shel1. At thatitime, zalso,adata pin ZM carr-iedin a worm: gear: 2 9,0 :WhlCh-LiS .rotatable imelyon -a shaft 220 will have? been --set man'- ually in accordance :with"the. range by; means of a crank-285 operating throughgears-ZBAtO turn'--shart-:-282 :having awor'm288 whichuengages athe'eworm gear 290.Aroundisthen presented =to the being enteredbetween: the-' 'fee'd rollsunder the guidance of the supportingroll fid at the-rear. end,whereupon-itwill' be seized by the first set of feed rolls which'are-rotating at a lcwnspeed, of theorder of 150 R. PLUM. As'soon asure-shellstrikes and is stopped by the 'fusesetting' jaws, the feedrolls stall, slipping-the .clutch l-18 and causing the-differentialI-SU- to'operaitei to 'initiate the cycle of the control mecha- :n-is n;This-serves-to turn an over-ridingcluteh fiflicounterclookwise asviewed'in Figflg thereby through connecting" links and levers" to 1 turna "s'haft236 which acts through a-pin'ion 298,--a m-crow and a bellcrank 3-02 to release-a-pi n 386, carried by 1 arm 301, 'irom a notch304 thus snowing a shipper-3B8 to be actuated-'by a spring +322? tothrust the data pin 292 forward where-it --Wi1lbein aposition todetermine the extent-of fractional revolution of the fuse setter.Substantially simultaneouslya zero stop"1ug'234 is disengaged fromashoulder '23 Z on a-fuse-clutchrelease plate,- or controller, 222mounted on and connected to the shaft 228. A wrap-around springclutch-224 which-receives energy from the driveshaft 116 through gears2-33, 2-35; a shaft 2 310 and -a wormiand gear 228 connected toa sleeve226 ofthis clutch 2'24the1risabie to -turn the-controller "2-22counterclockwise until the shouldertgz contacts the 'data'pi-n 292 Inthis turning movement-of the controller=222 with the clutch '2 24-;the-shaft 2 20 will be fractionallyrotatedalso and, through gears23-3,---23 3;--ashaft "240, the coupling 38' and an operating shaft (notshown) which is interposed between coupling and-the annular gear I44(Fig.6) will'set 'thefuse; *When-the shoulder -232 bangsagainstthis'-d'ata pin 2%, it turns the input data worm gear-293' slightly,sliding*the'data-sh-aft 28;2-s ufilciently {about a half inch) to turna-vertical-shaft $34 and, by a cam 354, to unlatch anescapement. "Thisescapement mechanism is associated with the cam shaft I86 whichhas-a'friction clutch S QB which receives power fromthe drive-shaft"f'l'fli'through a shaft 350, and a worm-and -gear connection" 368. Theescapementincludesa ring- .like'pendmum 352pivoted at 354 and carryingtapered cam rolls 356 and 358. Aspringsecured to thependulum tends todraw it to the left-as seen'tin Fig. 7 but is prevented by alatoh 388normally" held upwardly by a spring (not shown) ,an'd'capable of 1 beingdepressed' b'y a trigger pin ,0 "mounted atone end of a-jointed lever312, 37-8. The latter,- which is pivoted-at3'l4,=has at itsother end aroll 380'e-ngaging the top-ofithe can-344. Asthe-pendulum-swin-gsone=way or Mother, wth -rolls 356- and 358 cooperate with 9.

:jecti r 1' rod 400. Similarly; rod 94 of the" ramming -mechanism willstrike the abutment I I2 r '6 :ca'm'rtfillazto permit. rotation :of 1the. cameh ft: i28 t'foria- -hal revolutioniand then to; open. the fric-*tion c'lutchsMB. When; :as previously. described, th'eficam 3.44 13rctatedatheflatch"35:6 will here'- leaise'd, whereuponthe 10am :shaf-t186 -.tur-ns :throughxazhalf revolution and the speed. shipperlfiza'opens the low-speed; driving clutch v I 118 .and: closesatheihigh-speed' driving clutch [5 i so that;the:feed;rolls turn athigher-i speed, such as il lOOtRiE P. .At the same :time, the :action.of eth'e cam'i31'8', which 1 is on the cam shait,-..acting gthrough; alever13 l 6' connected by. a: linkh3'li4glravzinger- 51013320,sandhyiaspring32'2 with the-ship'- -per 30 8,'=.will be to pullthedatapini292out of :engagement :with "the controller ishoulderz2'32.

eccentriosziien l on the cam shaft I 86, --.a'cting through aL-pitma-n'3.94, :a ra'ok 396 sand-1a ,double -segmentr398,wi1l push out a: maniactodraw out the fusesetting ja ws and to release-the; she'll. As soon asthe data pin 292 is pulled-asideythe fuse=clutch-re1ease plate, orcontroller; 222 :will be free to turnuntil thezshoulder 232 comesback-t.o its-starting position in -enga'gementwith the 'zero s.top:.lug-234.Thiswill react through the shaft-23B;'arack 330" and a gear-332 toreturn the worm 28*8,'ari'd hence-the data pin 292',=to its predeterminedposition; This movement is re tarded1b'y-the action-of a dash-pot" 342.

The' -fuse-setter jaws havin'g' *been withdrawn and the'fe'ed rollsdrivenat'hig-li speed-';the round iscarriedforward into-the gun. InsO"d0il'-lg;- the breechblook will be -closed',"-as described hereto-T'fore. The--firing pin 48 8 (Fig-"6) may then be operated and,--as theshot is -fired, the gun will start torecoil. This-will disengage theclutch 40- which drives the-feed rolls-,therebyallowing them to slowdown and, at -the' same'ti me the "spring 86 will'b'e effective to swing:the feed rolls open;

"As soon as theg-un starts to" recoil, a spring withinthe-counter-recoil-buifer cylinder 2| (Fig. -5) -expe1sthe'counter-reooil-bufier rod 428,

- whereuponthe movement of the block cam 424-011 fthis-rod will beeffective to'strike a 1011360 and -to'*-reset the escapement 1 pendulum-3 52' V which will semen-m the-position shown-iflFig; '7 by the latch365'. 'This will cause theoam'shaft'to turn-through a secondhalf-revolution, operatleaving'data -pin' 292withdraw-n-from the path of,"SPQFZB Z-and ready "to 'bereleased when latch 302 isagain withdrawn.

During counter-recoil, --t-he -breechb1ock"will open -and-the einptycase will be ejected; passing 1 back" between" the then separatedfuse-settenjaws andffee-d rolls; "Then, 'at'the end ofcounter-recoil;-the "fuse-setter jaws will be closed by the engagement of a rod (notshown) with the proon the control box 36; and *the ramming rolls will bemoved inwardly "to "operative position, "turning at low speed as .theparts of clutch 40 re engage;

From "the above description, ;it will be seen ithat thecontr'ol: box 36includes a mass of mechanism including various clutches and, if "thisgmechanism istoservelts purpose'under the exigencies-of use of the gun"in -the-field, it must operate per'fectl'y without need for repeatedadiustnient. I have, therefore, ---provide'd 11adevice for testing itby-u running itin without -theane'ces- SlbY Of;0Pe1 ating' 17h6EUIlfiOIKUhRtiHHI'PQSBJ- test'ing' device, shown in Figs. 1 to 4,embodies a.

table 500 in the form of an open frame made'of channel iron and istiltable by means of trunnions 502 upon supporting legs 504 so that theposition of the control box which is carried thereby may be adjusted bymeans of a shiftable brace .be mounted a drive motor 34' correspondingto the motor 34 of the gun mount, and this may be connected by V-belts35' to the drive shaft I of the control mechanism on which the flywheel33 is mounted. During the test, this motor is run continuously.

' On the table, a slidable platform 5201s guided for reciprocation bythe engagement of lugs 522 on the platform with rods 524 which aresupported in cross braces 526 extending up from the table 500., Thisplatform is arranged to be drawn to the left as seen in Fig. 1 by meansof a spring 528 and to be pushed forward toward the control box 36 bythe engagement of a. recoil cam 530 with a roll 532 mounted on anabutment 534 fastened to the end of the table 500.

The platform 520 also carries a motor 538 (Fig. 2) driven continuouslydurin the test and connected by a belt 538 to a speed-reducing mechanism540 and thence by gears 542 to a cam shaft 544 on which there is securedthe recoil cam 530. Rotation of this cam, held against the roll 532 bythe spring 528, causes a reciprocatory movement of the platform 520which simulates the recoil of the gun. This movement of the platformdraws a clutch part 4| away from the coacting part 43 on the control boxor, when the platform is in the position shown in Fig. 1,

causes it to engage thatclutch part as if the gun were in battery. Thisclutch part 4|, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, is keyed to the endof ashaft 545 which in turn is slidably splined to a surrounding sleeve 548carrying a brake drum 550. The. shaft 540 has a reduced portion which issurrounded by a spring '552 normally urging the clutch part 4| to theright in Fig. l.but capable of yielding upon engagement of said part 41with the clutchpart 43 of the control box. This spring is compressedbetween a shoulder on the shaft and a threaded abutment sleeve 554, andmovement of the shaft to the right is limited by lock nuts 556. Theconstruction permits proper engagement of the teeth of the clutch incase the tops of these teethcome together first and then are forced toslip into operative engagement as shown in the drawings. Any side thruston the brake drum by reason of this action is taken up by a thrustbearing 560 between which and the hub of the brake drum'is a splitsleeve 562 held in position by a band 564.

The sleeve 548 carrying the brake drum 550 is journaled in uprights 560and 568 carried by the platform 525 and, bearing against this brakedrum, is a brake shoe 510 (Fig. 3) tiltable on-a rigid arm 514 which ispivoted between lugs 516 on the platform by a pin 518 and has bolted toit a slightly flexible flat bar 580 the free end of which is providedwith a roll 582 resting against the periphery of a cam 584. This cam issecured to a countershaft 586 (Fig. 2) journaled on the platform anddriven from the shaft 544 by miter gears 588. The design ofthis brakemechanism and of the cam 584 enables it to exactly duplicate theresistance and inertia offered by the ramming rolls 50 and theintermediate mechanismv 'together with the added inertia when the rollsare in engagement with the round of ammunition 42, 44. This will be thecondition existing during the engagement of the concentric portion 590(Fig. 3) of the cam 584 with the brake-operating mechanism but, as thecam is rotated to bring the hump 592 thereon beneath the cam roll 582,it will apply a severe braking force sufficient to stall the clutchshaft I12 of the control box and imitate the stalling effected in theoperationof the gun when the shell strikes the fuse jaws and is stoppedthereby. Following this, the cam 584 will turn to the positionillustrated in Fig. 3, where the roll 582 will be received in adepression 594 and the brake completely relieved during the periodcorresponding to recoil and counterrecoi-l, whereupon, as the clutchparts 4| and 43 rerengage, a'load braking force will be applied by theconcentric portion 590.

As the movement of recoil is simulated by the action of the cam 530 justbeyond the positionof that cam illustrated in Fig. 1 and this platformis moved to the left by the action of the spring 528, it will draw withit a connecting rod 600 joined to a lever 602 pivoted on the table 500and forked at its upper end. The forked end is provided with inwardlyextending pins 604 which are positioned to engage a groove in the end ofthe counter-recoil-buffer rod 428. Thus, the simulated recoil movementof the platform 520 is accompanied by a movement of the rod 428 toactuate the cam 424 so as to reset the escapement pendulum by anengagement with a roll 360 (Fig. 7) a the bottom of that pendulum.

8 Another brake mechanism provides a load for the fuse-setter shaft 2-40to thus test that mechanism and especially to run in the wrap-aroundspring clutch 224 included in it. This is of the Prony-brake type andincludes a drum 6) (Fig. 3) having a central sleeve 6l2 which isinternally grooved for engagement with the ribbed coupling 38 of thecontrol box. On the hub 514 of the .drum 6| 0, is swingably mounted aframe comprising plates 6I6 held together at the bottom by bolts andspacers 8l8 (Fig. 1) and provided at their top ends with a spacing block620 (Fig. 2).. Beneath this block and positioned by flanges for verticalmovement between the side plates M5 is a U-shaped member 622 to whichthere is pivotally attached a brake shoe 624. The pressure of this brakemay be adjustably determined by a screw 626 acting through a spring 628(Fig. 3).. The block 620 at the top of the brake mechanism has alaterally extending lug 630 to which is plv. oted the forked end 63| ofa rod 632 which extends through an aperture in a plate 634 fastened tothe side of the control box and is provided with a spring 636 resistingtilting movement of the frame 6|6 which carries the brake shoe aroundthe axis of the coupler shaft 240. A spacing sleeve 638 surrounds therod and is interposed between the plate 634 and the forked end 63. Theadjustment of the screw 626 is such that, during operation of thefuse-setter shaft, the end of the spacing sleeve 638 is drawn slightlyaway from the guide plate 634. If, how.- ever there is any grabbing ofthe clutch224 of the fuse-setter mechanism, this spring 636 safeguardsthe brake mechanism.

In the use of the apparatus, with the motors 34' and 536 being operatedcontinuously, there;-

mace-3 577:

sult'iis that ithe :cams' 530 =and"584 are operated continuouslyi intimed relationtand by their con-' jointiaction cause a stalling force tobe applied to the brake druim '550 and-"henc'e to the clutch shaft I12ofthecontrol boxs This will, in the manner described previously, then-"cause the operation of the fuse-setter drive and, by the release oftlie 'escaipemeiit iriechanism, effect a movement of the shipper I82 todrive the feed rolls through a high-speed clutch I80. Following this,will cDme the action which simulates the recoil of the gun when themovement of the platform 520'will effect a reciprocation ofthecounter-recoil-buffer rod 428 and a resetting of the escapementmechanism,-thus permitting operation of the cam I8 4- toimove the"shipper 18-2 so as to close the low}- speed drive H8; The cycle theribegins' again a-nd' lsrepeated overand over-as often as mayberiecessa'ry-towear in the clutches' and to obtain a thorough test of themechanism in the control box 36.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A power-operated device for testing by trial a control mechanismwhich is adapted to determine the cycle of a fuse-setter rammer for agun and which includes a power-driven rotary clutch shaft, said devicecomprising a rotary brake shaft adapted to be connected to the clutchshaft to rotate therewith, means for driving said connected shafts, areleasable brake for said rotary brake shaft, and a motor-operated camoperating cyclically to apply the brake with a force sufficient to stallthe rotation of the brake shaft and then to release it.

2. A power-operated device for testing by recurrent trial a controlmechanism having a shaft and adapted to initiate the cycle of afuse-setterrammer for a recoiling gun which, when it recoils, separatesthe fuse-setter-rammer from the control-mechanism shaft, said testingdevice embodying a rotatable shaft having a part for driving engagementwith the aforesaid control-mechanism shaft, means for driving saidshafts, driven mechanism movable bodily to periodically separate saidshafts, a brake on one of the shafts, and driven means to apply saidbrake in predetermined timed relation to the time of reengagement.

3. A power-operated testing device for a gunrammer control mechanismembodying a driven shaft terminating in a clutch part and arranged, whenstalled, to trigger an associated mechanism, said testing device havinga shaft terminating in a mating clutch part, means for driving saidshafts, means for reciprocating the shaft of said testing device toseparate the clutch parts, a brake on said latter shaft, and a leveroperated in timed relation to said reciprocating means for applying abraking force to the shaft of the testing device to stall said drivenshaft.

4. A power-operated device for testing by recurrent trial a controlmechanism having a shaft terminating in a clutch part and adapted toinitiate the cycle of a fuse-setter-rammer for a recoiling gun which,when it recoils, separates the fuse-setter-rammer from thecontrol-mechanism shaft, said testing device comprising a slidablymounted platform having journaled thereon a brake shaft provided withpart of a separable clutch coacting with said first clutch part, meansfordriving said brake shaft, a brake for said shaft, means to move theplatform to separate the clutch part on the brake shaft from thecooperating member on the control shaft, and

10? means" to operate the brake in timed relation thereto.--

5. powfer operateddevice for testing by recurrent trial a' controlmechanism having'a shaft 1 terminating in a'clutc'h'part' andadapted toinitiatethe'i-cycle 'ofa fuse-setter rammer'for a recoiling guri'which,when it recoils, separates the fuse-settr' rammer fromthe*controbmechanism shaft;-'s'aidtesting-device comprising a table, 8.-pla-tform slidably mounted on the table, ashaft joiirnaled onthe'platform terminating in a clutch part'for engagement with thecorresponding clutch p'art" 6n *the' control-mechanism shaftrfieans fordfiving said "sh'afts; "a brake for the 'shaft- :en' the lplatform,periodically operating me'ans for applying said brake, and meansoperatedin timed rel atien-to said brake-applying In ris orrecipiocatingthe platform'to'separate theielutchaparts 6. A power-operated device fortesting by recurrent trial a control mechanism having a shaftterminating in a clutch part and adapted to initiate the cycle of afuse-setter-rammer for a recoiling gun which, when it recoils, separatesthe fuse-setter-rammer from the control-mechanism shaft, said testingdevice comprising a table, a platform slidably mounted on the table, ashaft journaled on the platform terminating in an axially yieldableclutch part for engagement with the corresponding clutch part on thecontrol mechanism shaft, means for driving said shafts, a brake for theshaft on the platform, power means for applying said brake periodically,and means operated in timed relation to said brakeapplying means forreciprocating the platform to separate the clutch parts.

7. A power-operated testing device for testing by recurrent trial amechanism embodying both a driven shaft having an overriding clutch andterminating in a clutch part and also other mechanism. set in operationby the action of said overriding clutch when the shaft is stalled, meansfor driving said shaft, said testing device comprising a cyclicallyoperated brake for intermittently applying a braking force to the clutchpart of the mechanism to be tested sufficient to stall the shaft, and acam connected to said brake for completely relieving the brake load, andfor ap lying an intermediate brake load.

8. A power-operated device for testing by recurrent trial a controlmechanism adapted to determine the cycle of a fuse-setter-rammer for agun, said mechanism having a clutch shaft and a shiftable rod forcontrolling the action of the clutch on that shaft, means for drivingsaid clutch shaft, said testing device embodying means forintermittently applying a load to the clutch shaft, means forreciprocating the rod of the control mechanism, and driven means foroperating said two means in timed relation.

9. A power-operated device for testing by recurrent trial a controlmechanism having a shaft terminating in a clutch part and adapted toinitiate the cycle of a fuse-setter-rammer for a recoiling gun which,when it recoils, separates the fuse-setter-rammer from thecontrol-mechanism shaft, said testing device comprising a tiltable tablefor supporting a mechanism to be tested, a platform slidably mounted onthe table, a brake shaft carried on said platform and having a clutchpart for engagement with the corresponding clutch part on thecontrol-mechanism shaft, a motor for driving said shafts, a power-drivencam mechanism for applying a brake to the brake shaft at intervals, anda cam-operated mechanism driven in timed relation to the flrst-mentionedcam mechanism for moving the platform toward and away from the mechanismto be tested toseparate the clutch parts.

- 10. A power-operated device for testing by recurrent trial a controlmechanism having a Shaft terminating in a clutch part and adapted toini' tiate'the cycle of a fuse-setter-rammer for a recoiling gun which,when it recoils, separates the fusesetter rammer fromthe'control-mechanism 10 cam-operated mechanism, driven in timedr'elation to the first-mentioned cam mechanism, for

moving the platform toward and away from the control mechanism toseparate the clutch parts, and means for connecting to that platform 9.iongitudinally shiftabie rod of the mechanism to be tested.

MIETH MAESER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 1,469,240 Palmer Oct. 2, 19232,004,950 Jenkins June 18, 1935 2,207,996 Basquin July 16, 19402,381,549 Mabery Aug. '7, 1945

